By Catherine Vespereny

Mr M did not intend to kill a St. Louis University student but wanted only to play games with her mind, his attorney told a jury as Mr M’s capital murder trial opened Wednesday in St. Louis County Circuit Court. Mr M’s attorney, S. Lee Patton said that his client was guilty of manslaughter in the strangulation of Mary C. Towey -- but not capital murder, as charged. The prosecution is seeking the death penalty; the trial is before Judge Alphonso H. Voorhees